Lockheed Martin will manufacture 22 GPS IIIF satellites for the U.S. Air Force—thanks to a $7.2 billion contract.
“The world is dependent on GPS, from getting directions to getting cash from an ATM or trading on the stock exchange,” said Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson. “These satellites will provide greater accuracy, and improved anti-jamming capabilities, making them more resilient.”
The aerospace and military technology giant has already been building 10 GPS III satellites, the first of which is expected to launch in December 2018. These spacecraft have three times better accuracy and up to eight times improved anti-jamming capabilities than existing GPS satellites. Their life span of 15 years is 25 percent longer than even the latest GPS satellites currently in orbit.
The second batch of satellites—the GPS-IIIFs—will improve upon the performance of existing GPS IIIs by adding further power, resiliency and capabilities. These performance improvements include strengthened anti-jam support for U.S. and allied forces to help ensure that enemy forces can’t cut off their GPS functions in hostile situations. The satellites will also feature a laser retro-reflector array that will allow them to be positioned with ground-based laser precision—enhancing their signals.
Another new feature of the GPS IIIs will be a Search and Rescue hosted payload—a module attached to the satellite with circuitry that operates independently of the main spacecraft while sharing its power supply and transponders. This particular payload will help first responders detect and respond to emergency signals. In addition, the integration of an international L1 civil signal (L1C) will allow the spacecraft to interoperate with global navigation satellite systems.
The navigation payload of the new satellites will be fully digital—the payload on the initial GPS IIIs is already 70 percent digital.
The first GPS IIIF satellite is expected to be available for launch in 2026.
Lockheed Martin is assembling the satellites at its GPS III Processing Facility near Denver, Colo. The nearly 40,000-square-foot state-of-the-art factory, which cost $128 million to construct, was designed in a virtual reality environment to maximize production effectiveness and efficiency. It includes a specialized cleanroom and test chambers designed to streamline satellite production.
As the world continues to rely on GPS technology in more ways, cutting-edge GPS technology will be vital for an increasingly interconnected world—and the GPS IIIs promise to be workhorses for soldiers and civilians alike.
Read more about developments in the satellite production sector at Boeing to Acquire Small Satellite Provider Millennium Space Systems.